YA Book Tour- Idaho

The next stop on my United States of YA book tour Idaho and representing it, is Chris Crutcher's Deadline.  Honestly, this probably would not have been a book I just picked up on my own, but I am so glad I read it.  It is probably the most uplifting, and yet depressing book I have ever read, so go ahead and have your kleanex box at the ready.

Ben Wolf is about to start his senior year of high school, and he has big plans, like winning state in cross country, getting the most out of school, and most importantly getting Dallas Suzuki to notice him. But like all best laid plans, this one gets a major monkey wrench in it. On his physical with Doc Wagner, it is discovered he has a serious illness, and only has about a year to live.

Ben decides since he is eighteen that he will not tell anyone about his diagnosis, and he will forgo treatment because it will only make him sick  He want to make the most of the time he has left, and part of that is he gives up cross country for football.  He has been helping his brother, Cody, the quarterback analyze tapes for about a year, and he has quite the knack for breaking down the opposing teams defense.  He scores a date with Dallas Suzuki to homecoming, and works on his current events/government teacher about real social change.

Along his journey, Ben ends up befriending the town drunk, who is more than what he seems, and has a secret that has been eating him alive.  He as he falls for Dallas, he finds that she has her own demons that she is dealing with.  And oh yes, in his dreams he has conversations with Heysoos, like spanish for Jesus, but he prefers it spelled H-E-Y-S-O-O-S, who may be a divine being or just a manifestation of Ben's subconscious.

This book was probably one of the best books I have read all year.  The issues that it makes the reader really think about are so real, from racism to our own mortality.  Ben's character is one the most well written characters.  You get a definite sense of a boy having to grow up quickly because he is facing his own mortality.  He is enduring, smart, and funny.  More than once I found myself laughing at his wit.  There are things he says I only wish I had the courage to say out loud. I would say my only complaint, and it is a minor one, it is that there is never an actually name given to Ben's disease.  All the read knows finds out is that is a blood disease, and the science mind in me is dying to know the exact diagnosis.  So if you have not read this book, you should, and I mean like right now.

Currently Reading:
Bloodlines
by Richelle Mead

Twice Tempted

Twice Tempted is the second book in Jeaniene Frost's Night Prince series, a spinoff from her Night Huntress series. (Which if you haven't read, I highly recommend.) This book picks up a few months after the first book, Once Burned, ended.

The books begins with a prologue (and I will get back to that later), and then the first chapter takes you back several weeks before the prologue occurs.  In the first chapter, we see that there is trouble in Leila and Vlad's relationship.  And yes, he is that Vlad of the Dracul family.  Leila feels that Vlad has become more distant with her, and is worried that since she has lost her power to pull impressions of people from items that he is not interested.

One night, Vlad gives her a dress and invites her to a dinner party, where he tells her that he wants to reassure her of her place in his life.  At the dinner the table is filled with other vampires, and Vlad gives her a ring sized box, and it not what you think.  The ring is his family's crest and he wants her to become a vampire in his line, to which Leila is understandably upset.  She leaves before she can cry in front of all of them and returns to her room.  Later when Vlad comes to her, she tries to get him to admit his feelings for her, or at least say that she could mean more to him, and when he can't she tells him she is leaving.

Leila heads back to find Marty, her old carnival partner who happens to be a vampire, too.  Maximus, Vlad's second, goes with her to insure she is okay.  She finds Marty in Georgia, but he has hired a new girl to be the Fantastic Frankie while she was gone.  Leila watches their show one night and after everyone else leaves, sees that there is another vampire watching the show. Thinking nothing of it she goes to see the carnival master to do a trade with her jewelry for cash. As they work their deal, there is a huge explosion in through the trailer.  Lucky for Leila, she still has Vlad's protection from fire and Maximus is still hanging around to pull her out.  Mainly because he still has a serious crush on her, and is hoping to make a move now that she is no longer with Vlad.

The fire seems to have drained the last of Vlad's aura over her, and she is able to pick up essences of people off objects again.  Good thing to be able to track down the bomber, but it also seems to be letting her connect to Vlad in her dreams. So while her and Maximus look for the bomber, and later his mysterious vampire woman who hired him, Vlad is looking for her. Oh, and every time she tries to connect with the vampire woman, she has some serious bleeding problems.

Overall, I have to say I really liked the book. BUT, and there is a big but, it really annoyed me that the prologue was repeated almost word for word once the book got to the point where the prologue was.  What was the point of the prologue if you are just going to repeat it later?

I do like the character of Leila.  I think she is strong, maybe a little too rash at times, but really fights for what she believes.  Even when it means leaving the man she loves because he cannot tell her if he will ever love her. Vlad I have liked since he first made his appearance in the Night Huntress series.  He definitely has some emotional issues, but what he has been through both in his life and his vampire state, it makes sense.  He does ending up being able to confess his feelings for Leila.  Oh, and Cat (Night Huntess) makes a short cameo which is fantastic.

Currently Reading:
Deadline
by Chris Crutcher

YA Book Tour- Georgia

The next stop on the United States of YA book tour is the great state of Georgia, and representing Georgia is Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall.  I feel like I had to hold this book to a higher standard because it is representing my home state.

When Sophie Mercer was 12, she came into her powers as a witch. The powers are passed down from her dad, who she has never met because her parents split before she was born.  At the age of sixteen, she tries to help out an outcast classmate with a love spell that goes horribly wrong. For that she is sentenced to attend Hecate Hall, a reform school for witches, fairies, and shapeshifters, which the students call Hex Hall.  The school is on an isolated island in Georgia, and housed in a slightly sinister looking old house.

In Sophie's first hour there she is almost attacked by a werewolf, and is saved by the school hottie, Archer.  While Archer is hot, he seems to have some personality issues.  Sophie's new roommate is the schools only vampire, Jenna, whose last roommate died under mysterious circumstances.  While she explores the school, she runs into the paranormal version of mean girls, Elodie, Anna, and Chaston, who are dark witches demanding for her to join their coven.  She also manages to tick off the school's Defense teacher, Vandy, in the first week.  Who turns out was predisposed to hate her because Sophie's father is the head of The Council who sentences Vandy to have her powers stripped.

For her trouble, Sophie is sentenced to organizing the basement with Archer twice a week.  Here she sees another side of Archer, and maybe he is not quite the jerk she thought.  She might even be crushing on him, too bad he is dating Elodie.  While some things seem to be looking up, all is not what is seems at Hex Hall.  Sophie keeps catching  glimpses of a ghost in a green dress, who always seems to be staring right at her. Another attack happens, and everyone is blaming Jenna.  Things just seem to be getting worse, when the green ghost makes contact with Sophie, and turns out to be her dead great grandmother who wants to train her in magic. At this point, I am really questioning Sophie's judgement, because really girl you don't find this woman in green the slight bit suspicious?    

Of course the night of the school ball things get a little crazy. Elodie and Archer are having issues. Archer dances with Sophie and confesses he might have feelings for her. Oh, and then there is another attack, which causes Jenna to be shipped off to The Council for questioning.  At the end of it, though it seems like Sophie and Elodie might become friends.  Too bad Sophie kisses Archer in the basement, and finds out he is more than what he seems, and he is not even the least of her problems.  She finally figures out that maybe great grandmother is not quite right.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I felt it left a few things unanswered at the end of the book.  I am hoping that when I read the rest of the series that it will flesh out things more and answer my questions.

Currently Reading:
Twice Tempted
by Jeaniene Frost

Insurgent

Insurgent is the second book in Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy.  If you have not read the first book, Divergent, then stop right here because this will contain spoilers, there is no way around it when reviewing this book.

Divergent was such an amazing book that Insurgent had a lot to live up to, and praise be to the literary gods that it did not disappoint in the least.  This book was every bit as good, if not better, than Divergent.

The book starts as Tris, Four/Tobias, Peter, Marcus and Caleb arrive to Amity's farms. Tris is having to cope with a lot, the death of the parents and having to kill her friend Will for one.  They meet with Amity to try and figure out where to go from what has happened.  Amity as a whole decides to stay neutral but to allow their farm to become a safe house from everyone fleeing the city.

While at the farm, Tris follows Marcus (Tobias' jerk of a father) and discovers that he knows more about why the attack on Abnegation happened than he is letting on.  When Tris tries to tell Tobias this, you can really tell that he is still having serious daddy issues.

Tris and Tobias realize pretty quickly that they will not be able to stay on the farm, especially after Tris' fight with Peter.  It comes time to leave a little sooner than they planned when an Erudite and traitor Dauntless show up at the farm looking for them.  Tris ends up saving Peter's life, which will be a blessing to her later.  Tris and Tobias escape the farm and hop a train where they find it filled with factionless, lead by Edward. To keep them safe Tobias tells them his full name, which brings quite the reaction.  They meet with the factionless leader who propose an offer to Tobias.

Tris and Tobias decide to go to Candor's headquaters, where the non traitor Dauntless have gathered. Both are given the truth serum and made to tell about their role in the slaughter of Abnegation.  Tris admits that her biggest regret is that she killed Will, which drives a wedge between her and Tobias that is there for most of the book.  At this point the books really starts putting together the piece of why Erudite did what they did in Divergent.

Tris becomes an increasing complex character in this book.  She feels very human and you go with her through her stages of grief and her struggle with her feelings for Tobias and what is the right thing to do.  I think I love her even more for all that she has endured.  I have to say there where many times I felt the need to slap Tobias in this book.  He keeps harping on Tris to be completely open and honest with him, but seems to have a double standard when it comes to himself.  He tells her that he trust, but many times he puts her judgement of people or situations aside because of his own prejudices.

Oh, and OMG the big reveal in the last few pages of the book!  I hardly wait for the next book to be out, which is suppose to be in late October.

Currently Reading:
Hex Hall
by Rachel Hawkins

Cards & Caravans

Cards and Caravans is the fifth book in Cindy Spencer Pape's Gaslight Chronicles. The series combines two of my favorite genres steampunk and paranormal.  It mostly, in some way, involves The Order, which consist of magic wielders that are descendants of the Knights of the Round Table. These books are quick reads being as they are about novella length, but they pack a lot of action and romance into them.

In this book Connor McKay has returned home to the Scotland office to work after being rejected by Wink in the last book Moonlight & Mechanicals. While there he gets a call from the circus owner in the last book, who is concerned about his niece in Scotland.  Connor goes to investigate it, and finds the widowed Belinda locked in the goal accused of witchcraft and set to burn at dawn. After poking around a little bit, Connor finds that this accusation is definitely sketchy.  He breaks Belinda out, and they make a dash through the country side in her grandfather's steam powered circus caravan to his family's estates where she should be safe.

Once at the estate, all his family and friends are there or soon will be to celebrate his grandparents 60th anniversary.  Connor comes up with a plan to make sure that Belinda will always be safe.  That doesn't entirely stop her accusers for busting in and trying to take her away again.  Probably not their best idea, since it is a room full of magic using knights.  When they question those they arrested, there seems to more cases like Belinda's happening all around.  They call up Belinda's uncle and use the circus to set a trap to catch those behind the plot.

I enjoyed the book even if it will never win a Nobel prize for literature. It made a nice little study break to read a chapter or two while I study for my block exams.  I think that Pape writes very likable characters, and her romance is good and steamy (pun intended).  I liked that all the main characters from the past books in the series made an appearance in this one.  This Moonlight and Mechanicals and this book both have hinted at a romance between Tom and Nell, so fingers crossed that they are the stars of the next book.

Currently Reading:
Insurgent
by Veronica Roth

United States of YA, so far

As promised last week, here are short reviews of all the United States of YA books I have read up until Divergent.  Some of them I read before Epic Reads even came out with the map.



Representing West Virginia is Jennifer L. Armentrout's Obsidian which was absolutely fantastic.  I loved the main character of Katy.  She is nerd with spunk.  Daemon is definitely hot, until he opens his mouth and then he is quite the jerk.  His sister, Dee, almost makes up for as she is bubbly and nice as can be.  I loved this book so much I read the rest of the series, including the prequel in about 4 days.  Be warned that if you do what I did the last book, Opal, ends in a huge OMG moment, and the next book doesn't come out until August.

 

Representing New Mexico is Alyson Noel's Fated definitely was an interesting read. Daire is a strong, independent young woman who has been given some big responsibilities, you know the whole save mankind from evil responsibilities.  This book gives a whole new meaning the the Good twin/bad twin thing.  While I haven't started the next book, yet, it is on the want to read list.



Representing South Carolina is Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful, which I honestly have to say I am not a fan of it.  I did not really like the main character of Lena.  I mean come on, lives with a reclusive uncle, drives a hearse, and might be a witch, could it be any more clique? At least the Ethan was a little more likable.  This would not have been my first choice for YA book to represent South Carolina.



Representing Minnesota is Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver.  I really like her writing style, even if her books are a little more brooding than what I usually chose.  She has a very lyrically quality to writing, especially if you read her Lament and Ballad books.  The main character Grace is way more mature than the average teenager, but that may because her parents basically ignore her. Sam is not average either, but he does turn into a wolf so what do you expect.  These are beautifully written even if the characters aren't always relatable.  On a side note, Maggie Stiefvater ended up with two books on the list. Her The Raven Boys is the Virginia book.

These books, plus Divergent, are my YA book tour so far.  The next on the list to tackle will be Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins representing God's country, Georgia.

Divergent

There are two reason I decided to read Divergent by Veronica Roth. First, many of my friends have read it, and said it was great, and second, it is on Epic Reads United States of YA, which I am slowly working my way through, representing Illinois. (If you want to check out all the books: http://www.epicreads.com/blog/the-united-states-of-ya/)  So I had high expectations for the book, and gladly it did not disappoint.

It is a dystopian Chicago where everyone is divided into one of five factions based on the virtue they hold the highest that keep mankind from warring with each other.
Candor- Honesty
Abnegation- selflessness
Dauntless- bravery
Amity- peacefulness
Erudite- Intelligence

Beatrice, who later calls herself Tris because who really wants to be a Beatrice, is from a Abnegation family and has just turned sixteen.  The book begins on the day of her aptitude test which helps establish which fraction you are a best fit for. Tris is given an injection of a serum that runs her through a simulation, which for me had kind of a Matrix feel to it.  The test is where she learns she is a Divergent, meaning she does not really fit perfectly with any faction. Her tester tells her never to tell anyone what she is because if others knew bad things would happen to her.

While given a aptitude, people are still able to choose their own faction at the Choosing Ceremony. Kind of like if the Sorting from Harry Potter and the Reaping from Hunger Games had a child it would be this.  Tris ends up choosing Dauntless, and that is where her trials really begin.  She and the other initiates train under the watch eye of Four, who is tough but fair, and Eric, who is definitely a sociopath. Four is a totally enigma to Tris, who doesn't seem to know if she wants to kiss or hit him.  I have to admit she a little slow on the uptake with him sometimes.  I figured out exactly who he was the first time he was described. (Hint: It is in the eyes.)

As she proceeds through her training to her initiation, she learns that not everything is what it seems in her new faction.  What she learns ends up changing their whole society forever.

I really thought Tris was a very relatable character.  She has both vulnerabilities and strengths that make her quite human..  I think that I truly love her the most when she being selfless in her acts of bravery.  It is the kind of thing more people should do.

Divergent is very engaging, and I liked the undertones of social awareness.  It makes the point that no matter what society does to try to mold people, at the heart they are still humans with human flaws.

Also, random side note about the cover, is it just me or does the cover art remind anyone else of Sauron's all seeing eye form LOTR? (I know that it is suppose to be the Dauntless symbol, but I am just saying.)

I really want to go ahead and start Insurgent, but I have block exams on Monday.  I know if I start that it will be extremely hard for me to put it down and study properly.

After blocks, I plan on putting a quick review of all the other books I have read from the United States of YA thus far.

Currently Reading:
Cards & Caravans
by Cindy Spencer Pape

Frost Burned

Frost Burned is the seventh book in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, and it was definitely up to par with the proceeding books.

 But first, a little background for all the Mercy Thompson newbies.
The main series characters:
Mercy- a VW mechanic, who happens to be a Walker. Meaning she is of Native American decent and has inherited the ability to become a coyote.
Adam Hauptman- Columbia Basin Werewolf pack alpha
Stefan- Vampire
Zee- Mercy's former boss, who is an iron kissed fey

I was first drawn to this series because I absolutely love the cover art.  The model they chose to represent Mercy fits how I picture her perfectly.  (SN: I hate when the cover models don't really fit how I think the character should look.)  The series does not disappoint, but it is also not a series that you are able to pick up a book in the middle and be able to follow everything.  It builds and regularly references events that happened in previous books.  There is also a companion series, Alpha & Omega, which is also referenced, especially in this book. All that said, if you have not read the series and plan to, you probably want to skip the review because there will be spoilers to previous books.

Review:

The book starts with Mercy and Jesse (Adam's daughter) braving the Black Friday sales, where they get into a car accident.  She is unable to contact Adam to come get them, so she has the wrecker take them back to her shop.  She finds Ben (part of the pack) and Gabriel (her sometime assistant) basically hiding inside.  We learn then that the whole pack has been kidnapped by men pretending to be government agents, who we soon learn want Adam to assassinate prominent anti-supernatural senator. Mercy has to call in what allies she finds, which is tough because of the events in Alpha & Omega's Fair Game the fey have withdrawn to the reservation, so Zee can't be there for her.

Zee's son Tad though is not on the reservation, and makes his first official appearance in the books, if I recall correctly.  Before now, he has only be been mentioned in passing.  When Mercy first calls him, he seems a little bitter. As the book progress, I get the feeling he is mad because the Grey Lords don't care about him and won't let him on the reservation because he is only half-fey, but I would really love a better explanation.

Stefan comes to Mercy's aid to help her rescue Kyle (mate to Warren).  He still not quite right since that whole mess with Marsilia, but being with Mercy he might be on the road to being back to the vampire we first met who drove a Mystery Machine van with a stuffed Scooby Doo in the passenger seat.

Lastly, Asil, the Moor, shows up, sent by Bran to help.  I really like his character in the Alpha & Omega books, and was pretty excited to see him here.

Oh, and of my favorite parts of the book, there were a couple of characters from Adam's POV. One while he was still imprisoned and one at his and Mercy's reunion. Ms. Briggs did not disappoint with the action and drama.  It kept me guessing up until the reveal on who was behind the kidnapping.  The only hint I am giving is that the character has appeared before. And if all that wasn't enough to make you want to read Frost Burned three words: Zombie Fey Assassin! (Like each of those are not scary enough on their own.)

One last thing, so in the beginning Jesse ask Mercy when her and Adam are going to have children, and Mercy seems to the cool with idea. So I am crossing my fingers for Mercy-Adam baby soon.




Currently Reading:

First Post!

I have been thinking about this a long time, and I have finally decided to start my own blog.  Part of the reason I took so long to start this, was would I write about? My life is not exactly what you would call exciting. Full of stress being a vet student currently, yes, exciting no. But as I was reading the other day, possibly my favorite pass time in the whole world, it came to me. I could write about my favorite things, books. I am going to try to start writing well thought out reviews for all the books I have read.

Before diving in, I should probably share what my literary taste are.  I have read lots of different genre's but I tend to lean toward the paranormal.  I love fairies, werewolves, vampires, etc. I think partly because it gives you a real escape from reality. Which let me tell you, sometimes you really need after taking vet school block exams.  I am also a growing fan of steampunk, and steampunk + paranormal= fantastic. I do read some other stuff.  I am fan of a couple of crime mystery authors, and southern humor books.

The idea for the blog partially came since I recently finished Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey books. In the Lost Prince, Ethan gives rules for dealing with being able to see the Fey.  I though I would give my rules, that I have learned from reading about the Fey in books. Books including Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, and Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, among others.

The Rules:
1. Never bargan with the Fey, it will never go in your favor.
2. Never thank the fey- thanking the fey means you are in their debt, and that is not a place you want to be.
3. Never, ever piss off the fey- they are much older and more powerful than you will ever be, so it probably not a good idea to make an enemy of them.

My goal is to be able to post reviews for each book I read, but no guarantees.

Currently Reading: